Suspension device for billiard-chalk.



F. C. HOBBS.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR BILLIARD CHALK.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1913.

7 1,217,941. I Patented Mar. 6, 1917 FRANCIS c. HOBBS, on NEW YORK, n. Y.,. nssrenon T0 BRUNsWICK-BALKE-ooLLnnnEn COMPANY, A conPonAmI-onon new YORK.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR BILLIARD-CHALK.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Mar. 6 1917.

Application filed May 1, 1913. Serial-No. 764,789;

To all whom it'may' concern:

Be it known that I, FnANoIs- C. Hones, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspension Devices for Billiard-Chalk, fully described and represented in. the following specification and.- the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in; devices for holding billiard chalk suspended above a billiard table or inother: suitable location, whereby the chalk may be lowered from its normal position for application to the one and raised or lifted. back to its normal position out. of the way by the user releasing. the same.

In constructions of this character, heretofore generally used-,the chalk block is suspended on a flexible cord, which is drawn off from a reel against the action of a spring, which causes the cord to reel up when released by the user, the reel being fastened to or near the ceiling of the room. This construction has the defect among others that the chalk block is liable to be given a very quick and jerky return movement, when. suddenly released, with the result that the block swings or flies wildly about and is very liable to strike the user. Again, the sudden return movement has a tendency to strain: the construction. Furthermore, when the reel is subjected by careless users to excessive strains caused by pulling down. the chalk with unnecessary I violence, this renders the reel and spring liable to injury, and tends tolessen the life of the construction.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved construction for preventing a very quick and jerky return movement of the chalk block when suddenly released, whereby the swinging of the block is reduced so as. to be unobjectionable. It is a further object to produce such a construction in which a shorter length of cord may be employed for supporting the chalk block than is used in constructions now employed. It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction in which sudden and severe strains on the reel and spring are prevented. It is a further object of the invention to provide a cheap and durable structure, simple in character and easily installed for the uses contemplated.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description now to be given'of one embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanyi ng drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the improved device supported from the ceiling of a room, one position of use being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a side view on a large scale of the device, partly in section and partly broken away;

V Fig; 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-31Fig. 2'; 1

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4'4l, Fig. 3, showing the arrangement and use of the cords;

Fig; 5 is a detail View partly insection taken on line 5:5, Fig. 3, and

Figs. 6- and: 7 are detail views of certain features of construction.

Referring to these drawings, 1 indicates a' chalk block held in a holder 2 of any suitable design secured to and carried by one end of a flexible carrier, as a cord 3. The carrier 3 is suspended so that it or the chalk block may be graspedby a user and pulled down or lowered to enable" the user to: chalk a one and then raised up out of the way by the user releasing the chalk.

In accordance wlth the invention, means are provided whereby the ca-rrler 1s prevented from swinging in an objectionable manner and excessive strains avoided. In the best constructions these means will include a support for the carrier which will partake of the lowering and raisingmov ment of the carrier so that the carrier is support, as from ceiling 6, in any desired manner, the cord 5 winding on and unwinding from the reel as the latter moves up or down. The particular construction of the reel whereby it partakes of the raising and lowering movement may be somewhat va ried. A convenient and simple construction is that shown, in which there is provided a casing consisting of two parts or sections 7 8 detachably secured or fastened together by overlapping the meeting edges of the parts as indicated at 9 in Fig. 6. This casing forms a support for the different parts of the reel, the parts thus beinginclosed and injury thereto avoided and dust and dirt largely kept out. Mounted in the casing and held against rotation therein is a hollow spindle 10 having its ends interiorly screw threaded and held in the casing by screws 11 or in any other suitable manner. The spindle is conveniently held against rotation by forming the ends with keys 12 which fit in slots 13 in the section 7 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 7. Mounted to rotate on the spindle 10 is the reel proper which in the particular construction shown comprises two side sections ll, 15, having cord holding flanges 16 and ends 17 which fit over the spindle and take a bearing thereon. Between the side sections 1 1, 15 is mounted to rotate therewith a drum 18. The drum is supported by and secured to the sections 1%, 15, in any suitable manner. As illustrated, the drum at one or more points of its periphery is slotted, as shown at 19 in Fig. 5, near its ends, these slots being preferably two in number located at opposite points of the periphery, as shown. The sections 14, 15 are formed with interiorly projecting portions or bosses 20, formed by indenting the walls, which look into the slots 19 and firmly hold the drum in position to rotate with the side sections 14, 15. The rotation of these parts is effected in the construction illustrated by a spring 21 fixed at one end to the spindle 10 and at the other to one of the side sections 14:, 15. As shown in Fig. 3,the spring encircles the spindle for substantially the length thereof and the spring is secured to the section 14, though other arrangements may be adopted, if desired.

The chalk block supporting cord or carrier 3 is secured to the drum in any suitable manner so as to be wound up thereon and to unwind therefrom, as by being passed through an aperture therein and held by a knot 22 as shown in Fig. 4:. Similarly the supporting cord 5 is likewise secured in a similar manner on the other side of the drum, which is of suliicient dimensions to accommodate suitable lengths of cord in the use contemplated. Guide rollers 23, 24 for the cords 5, 3 may be provided, if desired,

these rollers being supported on pins 25 passing through extensions 26 formed on the casing.

The operation and advantages of the device are obvious from the above description. When the user grasps the chalk block and pulls the same in a downward direction the block carrier 3 unwinds from the drum and rotates it against the spring, putting the latter under tension. At the same time, by the rotation of the drum the carrier 5 is unwound from the drum and the reel partakcs of the downward.movement of the carrier 3, thus causing that movement to be a yielding one and taking off excessive strain from the reel and spring. Furthermore, the downward movement of the reel provides a length of cord so that the chalk block carrier may be shorter and move through a shorter distance than if the carrier has to supply the whole length of cord required to bring the chalk to the required position. There is thus less length of carrier to swing, and its movement is easily checked. lVhen the user is finished with the chalk he simply releases the block and the carrier 3 is wound on the drum which is rotated in the reverse direction by the action of the spring. As the drum thus rotates the cord 5 is wound up and the reel moves slowly upward as the carrier is being wound up, thus acting to relieve excessive strains on the parts and causing them to regain their position.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction employed for carrying out the invention, and the invention is not to be limited to the particular construction shown and described.

lVhat I claim is A hanger for billiard chalk having in combination a cord, a chalk block holder attached thereto, a spring actuated drum on which the cord is wound, a cord secured to a support and wound on the drum and sup porting the same, a stationary spindle for the drum, grooves in the drum, side plates provided with cord holding flanges and having projections fitting in the grooves of the drum, said side plates being extended outward to take bearing on the spindle, and a two-part casing inclosing said plates and the drum.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS C. HOBBS.

lVitnesses:

J. J. KENNEDY, P. N. TILDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

